Jul. 7, 2014
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by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

It looks like President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are going to have another talk about U.S. spying.

Germany is demanding an explanation from the United States after the arrest of a German foreign intelligence service official who says he passed along secret documents to the Americans.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest declined to discuss the spying allegations against a German citizen, but said the U.S. relationship with Germany is "incredibly important" to the president and his team.

"We're going to work with the Germans to resolve this situation," Earnest said.

The bust in Germany comes less than a year after reports that U.S. National Security Agency surveillance included Merkel's cellphone. That report inspired delicate talks between Obama and Merkel, as well as their staffs.

Merkel, traveling in China, told reporters that "if the allegations are true, it would be for me a clear contradiction as to what I consider to be trusting cooperation between agencies and partners."

The Germans sought a no-spying pledge from the United States, but did not get one. U.S. and German officials, among others, are discussing new sets of rules when it comes to eavesdropping on allies.

Merkel and Obama spoke by phone Thursday about violence in Ukraine, but did not discuss surveillance, officials said. The new spying allegations did not surface until after that phone call.

"Prosecutors say a 31-year-old German was arrested last week on suspicion of spying for foreign intelligence services, and that he allegedly handed over 218 documents from 2012 to 2014. German media, without naming sources, have reported he was an employee of Germany's foreign intelligence service who says he sold his services to the U.S."